Anne is known for her charitable work, and is patron of over 200 organisations. She is also known for
equestrian talents; she won two silver medals (1975) and one gold medal (1971) at the
European Eventing Championships,[3] and is the first member of the British Royal Family to have competed in the
Olympic Games. Princess Anne has held the title of Princess Royal since 1987 and is its seventh holder.

Anne was married to Captain
Mark Phillips in 1973; they divorced in 1992. They have two children and three grandchildren. In 1992, within months of her divorce, Anne married Commander (now Vice Admiral)
Sir Timothy Laurence, whom she had met while he served as her mother's
equerry between 1986 and 1989.

A
governess, Catherine Peebles, was appointed to look after Anne and was responsible for her early education at Buckingham Palace;[7] Peebles also served as early governess for Anne's older brother,
Charles. After the death of George VI, Anne's mother ascended the throne as Queen Elizabeth II. Given her young age at the time, she did not attend
the coronation.

A
Girl Guides company, the
1st Buckingham Palace Company to include the Holy Trinity Brompton Brownie pack, was re-formed in May 1959, specifically so that, as her mother and aunt had done as children, Anne could socialise with girls her own age. The Company was active until 1963, when Anne went to boarding school.[8] Anne enrolled at
Benenden School in 1963. In 1968 she left school with six
GCEO-Levels and two
A-Levels.[7]

In the next couple of years, Anne started dating. In 1970 her first boyfriend was
Andrew Parker Bowles, who later became the first husband of
Camilla Shand (subsequently the mistress and second wife of her brother, Prince Charles).[9]